Oxford City Stars grabbed their first win of the year and were able to celebrate collecting three points from their double-header.

But they were left wondering how they had not managed to make it two wins from the two matches as they let slip a 4-0 lead in drawing 5-5 against Solent Devils at Gosport.

Yet 24 hours later at Oxpens, Stars’ defence was on top form as they saw off London Raiders 5-2 in a fractious English National League South Division 1 encounter to consolidate their fifth place in the table.

Boris Ruzicka opening the scoring against London inside two minutes, assisted by Josh Florey.

The match became littered with penalties, and players being sent to the sin bin.

At one stage, Stars had four players in the penalty box and Raiders three, all at the same time! Raiders missed two scoring chances.

When the Stars had a 5 v 3 powerplay, it was little surprise they got their second goal, scored by Florey and assisted by Ruzicka and Darren Elliott.

Raiders’ opener came at the start of the second period as Robert Veares found the back of the net.

But three minutes later, Ben Ealey-Newman restored Stars’ two-goal lead, and Alan Green extended their advantage.

Raiders got a second goal through Tom Davis. But with two seconds left Mike Whillock made it 5-2.

At Gosport, Stars got off to a flier as goals from Florey, Ealey-Newman, Green and Joe Edwards put them 4-0 up with less than 13 minutes gone.

But Solent stormed back to lead 5-4.

However, in the final minute Ruzicka rifled home to make it 5-5.